Wednesday's Central Georgia Daily News 'n Notes: Jones County hires Harris; Honor Roll; Column (coming): Hoffman firing tough to figure; Mercer women ready for show; and plenty more
Wednesday's Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media.
The Scoreboard is in The Latest Coverage
Jones County snags Buck Harris for boys basketball
Buck Harris has been a high school head coach for six years, and made three Final Fours. Jones County hopes that continues. In The Latest Coverage
Honor Roll
Mercer’s Amanda Thompson is in there again, with good news for others in Central Georgia, plus last week’s, and some signings. In The Latest Coverage.
Who’s on Mercer’s list?
Only Bill Underwood and Jim Cole – and whomever they contact – know, but here’s an early list from media outlets and conventional wisdom.
In The Latest Coverage.
Column: Hard to put firing of Bob Hoffman in context
A young team lost close games to good teams. It happens. Mercer was quite likely to return to the land of contention and 20 wins in 2019-20, but Hoffman didn’t get a chance to prove as much. First column of two.
Coming around lunchtime In The Latest Coverage.
Mercer set for Selection Monday
Mercer will host a watch party for the NCAA Tournament women’s selection show on Monday at Hawkins Arena.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., 30 minutes before the show starts. The Southern Conference championships team along with the band, cheerleaders, and dance team.
T-shirts, posters, and Krispy Kreme donuts will be available to the free event.
A year ago, Mercer – then ranked in the coaches poll - was thrilled to get a 13th seed and face Georgia in Athens.
The news won’t be nearly as gratifying this time around. For one, Georgia won’t make the tournament. For another, Mercer’s RPI was 48th on March 12, 2018, and is 130.
Tournament projections have Mercer as a 16th seed at Notre Dame (ESPN.com, ) a 15 at Oregon (Collegesportsmadness.com), a 15 at UConn (RealtimeRPI.com).
Mercer is the only team in Georgia advancing. The closest teams to join the Bears will be South Carolina and Auburn, and neither will be seeded high enough to host Mercer.
The Bears best chances for something remotely regional are Mississippi State and N.C. State.
Around/About Georgia
Sluggish second half steers UGA to SEC loss
College basketball tournaments
Pastner looks back, looks ahead
Braves Report: Not talking to Kimbrel or Keuchel
Braves Report: Acuna having a good March
Falcons Report: Tevin Coleman to 49ers?
Falcons Report: Beasley money guaranteed
Falcons Report: Shraeder released